SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's basketball team dropped an 89-73 decision to Indiana University (Pa.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition Wednesday at Morrow Field House.
 
Wednesday's loss moves The Rock's record to 13-4 overall and 6-3 inside the PSAC, while the visiting Crimson Hawks leave SRU at 11-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
 
Slippery Rock was led by Isaac James, who recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block. James shot 8-of-10 from the field overall, 1-of-2 from 3-point range and 1-of-1 at the foul line. He's now made 18 of his last 25 field goal attempts over the last three games.
 
James was joined in double figures by Dame Givner and Ike Herster. Givner just missed out on a double-double with 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds and one steal. Herster added 13 points, pushing him to within five points of becoming the 26th athlete in program history to score 1,000 points.
 
RJ Sledge contributed nine points, three assists and one steal, while Sheick Samoura and Brady Mayo came off the bench to score seven and six points, respectively.
 
Collectively, Slippery Rock shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field overall, 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from 3-point range and 68.2 percent (15-of-22) at the foul line. The Rock's 10 made 3-pointers matched their season-high.
 
Indiana connected on 46.9 percent (30-of-64) of its field goal attempts including a 7-for-24 (.292) night from 3-point range. IUP also made the most of its free throws, hitting 22-of-27 attempts at the foul line (.815).
 
The Crimson Hawks, which held a +9 (37-28) overall rebounding margin, collected 19 offensive rebounds that were turned into 28 second chance points. IUP also scored 24 points off 14 Rock turnovers while committing just nine miscues of its own.
 
The opening portions of both the first half and second half doomed The Rock Wednesday.
 
IUP jumped out to a 21-5 lead at the onset of the game before SRU clawed its way back into the game, eventually taking a brief 31-29 advantage of its own only for the Crimson Hawks to rally back for a 43-36 edge into the halftime break.
 
Similarly to the first half, the Crimson Hawks also controlled the opening seven minutes of the second half by stretching its lead back out to 15 points at 62-47 with 13:23 left in regulation. Slippery Rock was unable to trim its deficit below double-digits through the remainder of the night in the eventual 16-point setback.
 
Indiana outscored SRU a combined 40-16 through the opening seven minutes of each half. The Crimson Hawks were led by Dallis Dillard's 25-point, four-steal, four-assist, three-rebound night.
 
Slippery Rock next heads to Seton Hill University for a 3 p.m. start time Saturday in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The Rock and Griffins split the season series last year with each team winning on its respective home court.




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